SOLAR CELL, ESPECIALLY MULTI-JUNCTION SOLAR CELL, FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To especially note a solar cell (14) which is a multi-junction solar cell.SOLUTION: The solar cell (14) includes a first main surface (31) of a semiconductor body (27) and a second main surface (32) facing the first main surface (31), and a topmost pn-junction (1) of all pn-junctions (1, 2, 3) stacked on top of each other is adjacent to the first main surface (31). Further, the solar cell includes a cell edge (33) of the semiconductor body (27) defining a shape of the first and second main surfaces (31, 32), namely a shape of the solar cell. An encapsulant (16) is provided on the first main surface (31) for providing an environmental protection of the semiconductor body (27). A mesa groove (19) is so provided on the first main surface (31) as to penetrate at least the topmost pn-junction (1). The mesa groove (19) is located adjacent to the cell edge (33) and is formed around the semiconductor body (27) to provide an inner cell area and a mesa wall (20).